LAHORE: The Pakistan Olympic Association, on Friday, announced the inclusion of hockey and wushu in the program for the upcoming National Games.In a hurriedly called meeting, POA President Syed Arif Hasan said the decision was taken after considering the national hockey team’s gold-medal winning performance at the Asian Games and Pakistan’s medal success in Wushu.

Football, however, was unable to find its way back into the Games despite the game’s popularity and earlier reassurances given by officials.

“We have decided that 19 disciplines will now be part of the 31st National Games, after the inclusion of hockey and wushu,” Hasan told reporters after the meeting.

Meanwhile, Sports Minister for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Syed Aqil Shah outlined the security arrangements for the Games, which will be held in the provincial capital Peshawar.

“He (Shah) has assured us that all law enforcing agencies will be working together to ensure the smooth conduct of the games in Peshawar,” the POA President said.

Hasan said the POA has constituted a three-member evaluation committee, which will monitor the daily progress of security measures being taken for and during the Games.